French President Macron takes legal action against photographer over invasion of privacy

French President Emmanuel Macron has filed a legal complaint against a photographer over allegations that he violated the presidential couple's privacy while they were on a holiday vacation. According to UK newspaper The Telegraph, Macron and his wife were on a private holiday in France when an unnamed photographer failed to honor their request for privacy.

The photographer is accused of stalking the president and his wife during their stay in the French city of Marseille, having at times acted in 'a risky and perilous manner' while ignoring warnings from Macron's security personnel to back off. None of that got him arrested, however; it was the photographer's alleged unauthorized entrance into the couple's private property that led to the cops being called and a legal complaint being filed.

The unnamed photographer reportedly told French newspaper VSD that he was subjected to a police search, which included having officials search his bags and gear. He complained of being treated like a criminal and being forced to remove his watch and shoelaces, and characterized the police officers' search of him as 'totally illegal.'

Stand on public grounds or your own private grounds and you can shoot anything that is visible to you. People have a right to privacy, and a responsibility to seek private quarters when they wish to be private!

More than a decade ago, former french president Chirac was shot naked on a summer holiday. Totally naked on a balcony. The shot wasn't taken by trespassing ways. It was taken with a telephoto, like Kate Middleton's topless pictures.The pictures of the naked old president weren't published. Of course, pictures of a sexy princess got published. And there's no doubt nowadays that pictures of Macron would have been. Decency seems to be gone, but laws still exist for everybody.

Um, something that happened decades ago and that has been public knowledge ever since is, almost by definition, NOT newsworthy.Besides, which, what does this bit of trivia have to do with the topic at hand? Leave your political agenda at the door.

poor poor comment... what is to "get together" legally speaking ? As the "victim", Macron should be well more suited to know if he has to complain about this meeting. Just like he knows how to protect his private life, just like anybody would.

@wye photography yes very true in the UK she would be in prison in France shes almost in charge of the country :) weird how the world works

as for the photography thing, if Macron was out in a public place he has no right to privacy even if he asked for it. If he was on private property however or was photographed through the windows of his house, thats another matter altogether

Some thoughts...First, rape implies sexual relationship... Where have you read that the 2 of them were dating or f...ing while Macron was a minor ? Meeting someone doesn't mean more.Moreover, I remember that sexual majority starts from 15 years old (in France, 16 in the UK). So if there would have been some kind of offense, it wouldn't have been rape. No matter the gender of the youngest.Finally, if a corruption of a minor or a sexual harassment situation had occurred, it would have been characterized by her authority role as a teacher, not by her age. What is bizarre, because everybody focuses on her age only...

But for sure, when I was 15, screwing anything, especially older women, was all that was on my mind. And every other 15 year old boy on the planet. 15 year old boys are designed to stick it in anything warm with a pulse.

Our new puritanical rage is at odds with our biology and 1/4 million years of evolution.

Nowadays people just like being offended I guess. I'm not convinced they are happier or more content. Just have more sexual hangups.

chance would have been a fine thing when I was 15, especially with my geography teacher. Damn she was hot...she'll be in her sixties now. I wonder if she remembers how she drove thousands of teenage boys wild (and their dad's at parent's evening...I remember my dad coming back from parent's evening with a smile across his face, and my mum looking like thunder...hahaha)

@wye: "minor" is relative. Sexual majority (age of consent) in UK: 16. So an adult can have sex with a 16 year old person, even in the UK, as long as there's no trust or authority relationship between the two of them... and they both consent of course. Just like in France (except in France, age of consent is 15).

The French President seems to be sure. Think he'd file a lawsuit he was sure to lose? The basis of the lawsuit is not that the paparazzo was harassing, but that he trespassed on private property. At least according to what I've read here.

Dude, read the article at the top. Particularly this line:"...it was the photographer's alleged unauthorized entrance into the couple's private property that led to the cops being called and a legal complaint being filed."

Jacques Cornell : we never said is it not illegal ! We said it is not considered to be a crime. It's quite different. The paparazzi will be judged but not for a "crime". He will be judged for offense. In France the word "crime" applies only to killing, raping, etc. Which is what we consider to be of the most important nature as it heavily affects you as a human being (especially if you are killed...).

What the paparazzi did is not considered a crime in France I think. He will go to court but I don't think he can be considered a criminal by french law. Criminals are killers, rapists, etc. Paparazzis aren't even we don't like them.

I have never said it is not illegal. I said it is not a crime. There is a nuance about that in french law. Crime is when killing people etc. More "casual" crimes are called "delit" (don't know how to say that in english or if there is an equivalence) and what your risk (prison/etc.) Is much less than for a crime.

Actually in France it is illegal to take pictures of persons without their consent even in public places. Most people do not care, of course, except Nigerian street vendors. Taking pictures of people on their property is naturally even more illegal.

Quote from the first one: "Laws about shooting and publishing photos and video.Before taking a photo of someone you are required by law to ask the individual’s permission. If you want to publish it in anyway you have to ask their permission for each specific usage. Any object that is created by or is the copyright of an artist, or designer must have permissions to be published in specific contexts. Any owner of property can assert rights of ownership of property, again the photographer needs permissions to publish, regardless of whether the image was shot from a public or private space."

Ignorance is a bliss... But I would recommend you to go further and look for the original french law about all this, or french lawyers blog 'bout photography rights.That's not because "French people now have a sense that they own the right of their image", that a law confirms that.

You're almost right about publishing. Even though there can be exceptions.

Again, restrictions deal with publishing images. But you still have the right to publish pictures of people without their authorization, mainly as long as it means no harm for them. That's where comes the real danger, 'cos harm is a relative notion.The Cour de Cassation, 2nd highest jurisdiction court in France has stated:

The right of artistic expression prevails. Again, there are limitations (when people dignity is concerned) to publishing images. But nothing ever about taking pictures from public places. Your first article talks about asking for permission before taking pictures... in a publishing purpose. Only in this purpose. As it's the best way of protecting yourself from future legal concerns.

I don't like Macron but in this case he didn't have a choice, he had to file a complaint otherwise the door is open to all excesses . Former pres Sarkozy did the same at the beginning of his term and that took care of his private life for good . And last but not least the guy was trespassing , photog or not , so , what do you expect ? In Russia he would already be dumped in the Neva with a good load of lead .

A Holiday Vacation? unlike a work vacation? :p And a Private holiday? Opposed to a public holiday? He was trespassing in or on a private property and complains of being treated like a thief? Now why would that be? Hey i have a camera! Freedom of press moron, open your dam'n bathroom door already The public has a right to see you take a dump! Dictator!

Article 226-1 (of French law) states that anyone taking an image of someone who is in a private place without their consent is liable to 1 years imprisonment and 45000 Euros fine and is also forbidden to work in the same profession for 5 years.

In France you have the right to privacy, explicitly backed-up by law. The photographer in this case is clearly a criminal.

Put the shoe on. What if you were the celebrity or public figure and you are trying to have a private holiday when this long-lensed idiot keeps on keeping on? They should permanently take the paparazzi's gear away and shove him in jail for 10 years, and fine the heck out of his employer so they go out of business. Privacy is privacy, such low-life's give photography a bad name. No wonder we start seeing crazy legislation...This is like the council putting in speedbumps and stupidly low speed limits on a road because of 2 or 3 fools on a weekend that race on through. Now everybody has to suffer, while a far better solution is for the Police to get those few drivers completely off the road.

@dccdp: Democracy does not mean i can do anything i want and don't get punished or fined. The guy entered in a private property and took pictures without permission, doesn't matter if it was the president or a simple person.

I hate paparazzis because they are the lowest type of people and photographers and i believe any celebrity has a right to private life undisturbed.

I was reacting to the extremism of the previous post. 10 years in prison for taking photos of a leader? Does this look like a good thing to do in a free country? Will the photographer also be flogged as well?

Leader or not (I don't think much of Macron) - but it is about privacy for any individual. What if it is YOU on holiday, just that photos of you would not be as-juicy sales material for the ethics-devoid paparazzi publishing rags.

@fotonix, Have you read my posts? I was only reacting to your extreme view of having the photog jailed for 10 years. But if you insist, no, I wouldn't ask the photographer to be sentenced to jail at all just for taking my photo. Are you living in a police state?

The title and content is a clear case of tail-wagging-the-dog.This is not a story about photograhy, nor a paparazzi, nor "invasion of privacy".This a criminal instance of pure and simple trespassing.(...by a very, very stupid human being, given the current security threat levels, I might add...)

Paparazzi are the only true photographers! The rest of you are sheep who follow orders like Pavlov's dog! Also it's ridiculous you're all judging and reading a bias article that doesn't even allow the photographer to have a rebuttal. Go paparazzi!

As narrated in the piece, if you try those very same stunts you may very well end up with a bullet in your head with no grounds for appeal regarding the rules of engagement that might dutifully be followed.

Haven't you heard what happened in Barcelona just a couple of days ago?

Do you know that Marseiille and the surrounding area can no longer be considered "European" but are, in this day and age, a demgraphic extension of North Africa?

Do you have a set of rules of engagement and procedures that you might provide to the French police that allows a trespassing "photographer" to be positively tagged as a "non-threat" to a president and his family?

Security of every citizen should be achieved. The president, as a public important person, got special attention. However, a photograph should not be badly handle by the police.

Moreover, if you decrease public freedom, decrease freedom of speech, in response to terror act, then you let terrorists achieve their goal.

In France, green politicians has been "sealed" home to prevent them to participate to manifestation or conference, a lots of doors of peaceful people has been broken by the police without any judge, some emission have been censured...This is not fighting against terror, this is using the fear of people to lock down people freedom and public discussion in order to extend your own power.

Again, from a security point of view, how do you differentiate between a photographer that "shouldn't be badly handled by the police" and just a terrorist posing as a photographer that "shouldn't be badly handled by the police"?

Due you understand the operational, real-time decisions authorities are faced with in the current brutal-force climate?

Can't you understand that the simple fact that he was trespassing on presidential grounds was reason enough to put a bullet in him and that makes the whinning and complaints about "being treated like a criminal" a complete delusdelusional claim by an idiotic human being that can't understand how lucky he is to be alive?

I am a Portuguese who lives in a country where these threats are incommensurably less significant.

Still, I am intelligent, empathic and informed enough to know what is at stake in what regards to such a crucial security target as the French president.

Didn't you read the papers on the 9th of August 2017?...on the19th of June 2017?...on the 6th of June 2017?...on the 20th of April 2017?...on the18th March 2017?...on the 3rd of February 2017?...on...on....on...?

Burying in your head in the sand as a means of denial won't lead you (...us...) anywhere.

Do you think that by being the President of France, not the US, Mr. Macron is not duly protected, with clear and decisive rules of engagement in place?

Again, that "photographer" can consider himself lucky to not have ended with a bullet in his head.

Trepassing several time, ignoring the various request, being caugth in private property with military protection where the head of state reside and trying to steal their privacy...

And what happened to him? He got searched like anybody would get searched in a airport, going to a concert or many public event theses days.

I don't see how anybody was rude to him. As for the legal suit he didn't respect the law and I would expect his employer to pay for it...

When thinking of free press and journalist risking their life, I am thinking of them going into a war zone or maybe investigating to unveil a big corruption scandal... Not trying to get some nudes photos some politician or arrasing people.

It is funy how when we sepak of criminal we have to respect their pricacy and all and how it doesn't apply to policians. Why ?

there is no law against trespass in France, and it's not the case that trespass is illegal in nearly all western countries. in the UK for instance its a civil matter, and don't expect any joy with a civil case if you haven't suffered any damages.

this whole american crap paranoia thing about shooting trespassers is ridiculous, and thankfully not a reflection of reality in law in most countries, where a more rational approach rules.

@landscaper1 today I went out with another American friend to go take pictures of a mountainous tea farms. We drove down dirt roads, found a scenic spot, got off our motorcycles and walked though the rows of tea taking photos. Then we had a dark chuckle about how we couldn't do this back home because if you step onto private land in the South someone might literally, and legally, shoot you. It's a legitimate concern back home that you might die if you take a few photos on a farm. How crazy is that?

I can't believe I used to think that was normal. It's so much nicer living without such xenophobic prejudices.

Later we met the farmer, an elderly woman and the 5th generation to farm there, who shared her homemade plum with us. We chatted and added eachother on social media. It was a much more human experience.

Feeling like you need to defend your land from trespassers is a uniquely American mindset.

@ xiao fei ... Do you honestly think "the South" is representative of America as a whole? I live in Virginia and I can assure you that here shooting someone for trespassing, even when "No Trespassing" signs have been posted, is virtually a guaranteed ticket to a prison sentence.

Now, shooting someone for breaking and entering your home is something else altogether.

And how that you go inside another one house despite having been asked to live several time, you do that in the house of a head of state and the security personnel just check you don't have weapons and let you go.

@landscaper1 I'm not sure how representative of the USA it is (in our cases NC and MO) but more than half of States have "stand your ground" laws which requires the shooter to only perceive a threat, not to actually be in any danger, so I do think one can be arbitrarily killed without the repercussions in many cases.

Still, shooting is an extreme example. In a more basic sense what I mean is that trespassing is seen as a hostile act in the US (often met with hostility, rightfully in the minds of people who see trespassing as hostile) but that this isn't the global default.

Breaking and entering is a different story, but the lines between dwellings and open land in the US are much blurrier than most other places.

NC and MO are two of the most xenophobic and discriminatory states in the U.S. Shooting trespassers in those two states is more likely to have to do with racial rather than trespassing issues.

You're right, shooting IS an extreme example. So are "Stand Your Ground" laws, whose legitimacy is under legal fire. FWIW, there have been only a few cases where someone effectively used that law without being charged for doing so. Let's agree that citing extreme examples of anything is, at best, a foolish means of argument.

The law should allow for trespassers to be shot when trespassing after being warned verbally or by signage. That'll take care of most photographers and newspersons traipsing all over one's private property when they've been asked to leave.Security should've beat him w/in an inch of his life then claim they know nothing about it. When the photographer admits that he got beat while trespassing on private property, his complaint should automatically be disregarded and he should be heavily fined.

Which is why the civilized world considers the U.S. to be a nation of brain dead thugs. Americans (well the U.S. subset) whine if 6 are killed in a bomb attack but thinks it's perfectly OK that 6 children a day are murdered by the second amendment gun nuts. So enjoy living in your toilet.

@Damian: As with most things in life, things are not so easy. Let me get this straight right away: I am and always have been very fond of the US and the US peoples and I do absolutely not support this US bashing. IMO Germany ows a lot to the USA and to France. But anyhow, please consider that there have been made numerous strategic mistakes by the USA in the past, which most likely led to terrorism in the first place (like the long chain of support for groups, which are a problem now).

While we own a lot to america (they get us rid of nazy) like america own us a lot (we helped them get their own country after all), America act like most government for foreign affaires and war. They do it for their own egoistic reason most of the time (I include my own country) and they put up some propaganda that is is to free people, bring democracy and so on.

Funnily most often there almost always a worse country that deal quite badly of their population that is an ally of the same state and has completely no issue and is welcomed to act as a dictatorship and all.

America do it quite often like many other countries, and most people would prefer they wouldn't, in particular the one they are supposed to save if you follow the official propaganda.

@ Nicolas: I think you may have mistaken me. I ment that we Germans owe the USA as well as France a lot. The USA helped Germans to rebuild Germany with the Marshall plan and supported German reunion. France realized that it was a mistake to isolate, humiliate and exsanguiate Germany after WWI and ended the nemesis with Germany in a noble manner after WWII. The beginning of an enduring friendship. Furthermore France like the USA supported the German Reunion.

Kaso... and if I saw you do such a thing, my answer to the police would be "I neither saw, nor heard anything."

If people were allowed to shoot trespassers we'd have a lot less problems with 'media' trampling all over people's property and shoving cameras in people's faces while they put one foot in the door so the people can't immediately close their own door to their own home.

TwometreBill "Which is why the civilized world considers the U.S. to be a nation of brain dead thugs..." Braindead... I suppose that's why people come here to learn medicine, engineering, computer programming, flight training, etc..

... and when it comes to opportunities for the average man or woman to make money, I think the U.S. is at or near the top of the heap. When it comes to the developed nations, I can't think of one that offers all that the U.S. does when it comes to freedoms and opportunity.

Which is why the photographer needed a good old fashion "civil matter" behind beating within an inch of his life. That way he gain the knowledge of how to be "civil". He'd also learn the definition of irony.

Yes you do as far as many folks are concerned and when it comes to putting your life in danger trying to get a photograph, that's what should matter to you. Thankfully in Florida, there's a remedy for criminals coming into your home uninvited and that law needs to be kept on the books until the end of time.

there are truly private resorts and destinations for elites .... pay the price for your treachery against mankind mr president .... devils , Elvis ,the Beeb.... and Barbra Streisand and you would be wise to accept the price of your fame and power ........

...im America an unauthorized entrance into private property will get you shot in the head ... and the courts will side with the homeowner

legal complaint being filed ??? really ...lol..again in America if you survive the shot in the head it jail ... not a parking ticket

im not convinced we really know details of what transpired ..but the photographer should stop stalking .... very uncool......

from the article:"None of that got him arrested, however; it was the photographer's alleged unauthorized entrance into the couple's private property that led to the cops being called and a legal complaint being filed."

if he committed a crime should he not have been arrested?!!........i wonder...........rather than handed a complaint and temporarily " held" by the bodyguards

so vanitas ... I'm not sure it was an actual BREAKIN ... despite the press release

he looks like he's taking a dump.... all he needs is an issue of "le Monde" in hand or a Bilderberg "program and gift bag " ..... and a bidet...truly he looks quite constipated ...............lol.... check the back of the "throne " dude !!!

Nice Polish name. Coming from a catholic fascist country and feeling threatened, eh? As well as the other guy. When you can't even bother to learn how to spell, everything around you is a Bilderberg - masonic - satanic - illuminati - Soros - flat earth - liberal - zionist - lizard people (...) mess. :-D

Macron is most certainly not an idiot. He has come from relative obscurity to take on the establishment and win a landslide victory as an independent outside of the traditional party structure. He knew just how to stand up to Trump too. He may end up being one of Frances great leaders in history.

i must be looking at this squatting stance of this brilliant political centristbut secretly loving crap.???...lol... well no.... anyway hes one of the better things politically to happen to France,,, as neofascist are slowly abandoned . given the boot ....so to speak.here let me say something nice .... he's better than that turd ...le pen

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